Adjustable metal framing

ABSTRACT

A strut apparatus for constructive use in the building framing arts is comprised of an elongate sheet-metal first cylinder, open at each of its ends, one of the ends providing a pair of integral ears. An elongate sheet-metal second cylinder is also open at each of its ends, and also provides attachment ears. The first and second cylinders are adapted by size and shape for tight sliding mutual engagement in a coaxial, linearly extensible, relationship with the ears of each of the cylinders extending in opposite directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to structural elements in thebuilding construction industry, and more particularly to a framingapparatus with extension capability.

[0003] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0004] The following art defines the present state of this field:

[0005] Houghton, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,241 describes abridging unit comprising a pair of telescopically adjustable bars ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-section. The female bar includes alongitudinal guide rib in its bight portion and further includinglongitudinally spaced, outwardly pressed substantially louver-shapedprojections defining depressions in its opposed side walls spaced fromthe free longitudinal edges thereof. The female bar still further havingchannels in the side walls extending from the depressions to saidlongitudinal edges, substantially louver-shaped dogs struck out from theside walls of the male section and engageable selectively in anddisengageable from the depressions through the channels for releaseablysecuring the bars in adjusted position. The male section having alongitudinal groove in its bight portions slidably accommodating therib, and guides struck inwardly from the side walls of the female baradjacent one end thereof and engaged with the longitudinal edges of themale bar for slidably securing same in the one end of the female bar.

[0006] Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,806 describes an expandable supportingbeam for use in building, comprising a plurality of telescopic memberincluding a central member and two end members, each end member havingan opening adjacent the outermost end thereof, a bearing portion on eachof the end members for respective mounting on spaced supports, means forremoving the bearing portions from the supports and includingdismounting bars, each bar being provided with a recess facing acorresponding opening; the bars being mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement in the outer ends of the end members and movable betweeninoperative positions within the members and operative positionsextending beyond the ends of the end members to abut the supports onwhich the members bear to force the respective bearing portions from thesupports, and means extending through an opening in one of the endmembers into a recess in one of the bars for moving each of thedismounter bars between the positions.

[0007] Short et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,743 describes a girdercomprising a pair of open-web I-beams, means, at longitudinally spacedstations connecting adjacent flange edges of the beam in a manner tosecure the beams in spaced parallel relationship defining a continuouspassageway therebetween, bounded on its sides by the respective webs ofthe beams and on its top and bottom by the respective adjacent upper andlower flanges of said beams and said connecting means, said adjacentflanges at the bottom of the passageway defining a pair of spaced tracksthere along, the adjacent parallel flanges at the top of the passagewaydefining a pair of tracks there along opposed to the lower tracks, asecond pair of open-web I-beams of lesser height and width than saidpassageway in said first pair of I-beams, means securing the second pairof I-beams in parallel relationship at the adjacent corresponding edgesof their upper and lower flanges, the second pair of I-beams beingretractable and extensible in the passageway defined by said first pairof I-beams, opposed anti-friction roller means between the first andsecond pair of I-beams, engageable along the upper and lower pairs oftracks respectively for centering the second pair of I-beams within thefirst pair of I-beams, and for facilitating longitudinal telescopingmovement of said first and second pairs of I-beams, the roller meanscomprising transverse bearing sleeves welded to the web of the secondbeam in alignment, and axle extending through said sleeves, andindividual rollers on said axle outwardly of the web of the second pairof I-beams in engagement with the flange of the first pair of I-beams,and other of the individual rollers inwardly of the webs of the secondpair of I-beams in engagement with the flanges of the second pair ofI-beams.

[0008] Kimball, U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,634 describes a tubular pole thatcomprises a plurality of nonmetallic telescopic sections and with thesections of the pole being of substantially identical diameter for themajor height of the pole, a metallic conductor embedded within each ofthe sections and with the conductors having outwardly and inwardlyexposed portions whereby the conductors of adjacent sections have inoverlying frictional contact when the sections are in telescopedrelation to form a continuous electrical conductor throughout the heightof the pole, the conductors lying wholly within the pole againstexternal exposure when the sections are assembled.

[0009] Young, U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,731 describes an extensible column forsupporting an overhead roof structure relative to a floor slab or thelike comprising, a pair of load-bearing tubes each having a relativelythin cylindrical wall, cross members joining said tubes rigidly inspaced parallel relationship, an extensible stud having a relativelythin cylindrical wall telescopically interfitting an endwise portion ofeach load-bearing tube, each stud having a portion projecting outwardlybeyond the end of said load-bearing tube, an endwise portion of the studbeing flattened and providing an anchor plate projecting from the endportion of the stud at right angles to the axis thereof, the anchorplate being integral with the cylindrical wall of the stud, the anchorplate having fold portions integral with the end of the cylindrical wallof the stud and doubled over upon the anchor plate, the fold portionsextending outwardly and joined to the outer edges of the anchor plate atopposite sides, the fold portion providing a rigid connection adaptingthe anchor plate to resist angular deflection relative to the stud, theend portion of each load-bearing tube opposite the stud having an anchorplate projecting therefrom at right angles to the axis of theload-bearing tube, the column adapted to be intermitted in uprightposition between the floor slab and roof structure with the studsextended and with the anchor plates seated against the floor slab androof structure, and means for locking the extensible studs relative tothe load-bearing tubes, thereby adapting the column to carry the weightload of the roof structure.

[0010] Black, U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,970 describes a section of a sectionaladjustable truss-type bridge joist, a prefabricated section comprising,in combination, a linearly straight upper angle iron, a complementallinearly straight lower angle iron parallel to and spaced below theupper angle iron, the angle irons being of duplicate cross-section andeach including a vertical flange and a horizontal flange, the verticalflanges being in a common plane, the corresponding inner ends of theupper and lower angle irons terminating together a flat-faced plate of across-sectional thickness corresponding to the thickness of the verticalflanges of the angle irons and interposed between and welded to thecooperative lengthwise edges of the flanges, and a vertical longitudinaledge of the plate being flush with the cooperating terminal ends of thevertical flanges, the vertical flanges having several bolt holescooperating with the transverse end portions of the plate, the end ofthe upper angle iron opposite to the locale of the plate extendingbeyond the corresponding end of the lower angle iron and being providedwith Lshaped fixedly attached cleats, the cleats providing bearingseats, and diagonal braces connecting the upper and lower angle ironstogether.

[0011] Land, U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,795 describes a building wallcomprising first channel means secured to the building ceiling andhaving downwardly depending spaced apart substantially parallel flanges,second channel means secured to the building floor and having upwardlyextending spaced apart substantially parallel flanges, the first channelmeans being disposed in cooperative relation to the second channelmeans, a plurality of tubular support elements interposed between thefirst and second channel means in horizontally spaced generally parallelrelation, the ends of the support elements being disposed between theflanges of the first and second channel means, each support elementcomprising an elongated element into at least one end of which anextension element is mounted in axially adjustable threaded relation, anouter surface of each elongated element being in substantial alignmentwith the outer surface of one flange of the first channel means and withthe outer surface of the corresponding flange of the second channelmeans, a spacer block threadedly mounted on at least one of theextension elements and normally disposed approximately midway betweenthe one end of the associated elongated element and the associatedchannel means, the spacer block having an outer surface in substantialalignment with the outer aligned surfaces of the associated elongatedelement and flanges wall panel means disposed adjacent the verticallyaligned surface of said spacer block, flanges, and tubular supports inflat abutting face contacting relation and means for securing the wallpanel means to the adjacent aligned surfaces of the flanges, spacerblock, and tubular supports.

[0012] Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,562 describes an extensible andcontractible joist comprising an outer joist member and an inner joistmember disposed in telescopic relationship to each other, the outerjoist member comprising a top frame, a bottom frame and side framemembers defining a hollow frame construction, the inner joist memberhaving a top member, side members and terminating at its bottom in alateral projection, the inner joist member being of a height less thanthe spacing between the top and bottom frames of the outer joist member,but the top frame of the outer joist member and the extended portion ofthe top member of the inner joist member defining a generally continuousunobstructed horizontal load bearing surface, overhanging projectionmeans carried by the bottom frame of the outer joist member at an endthereof, the overhanging projection means overhanging the lateralprojection of the inner joist member permitting slidable movement of theinner joist member relative to the outer joist member but restrictingupward movement of the inner joist member within the outer joist memberto space the top member of the inner joist member a short distance belowthe top frame of the outer joist member, and a plate carried by thebottom frame of the outer joist member adjacent the overhangingprojection means restricting downward movement of the inner joist memberwithin the outer joist member to maintain the top member of the innerjoist member in substantially plane-parallel spaced relationship to thetop frame of the outer joist member, thereby to cause the inner joistmember in use to be loaded in tension at the juncture of the inner joistmember with the end of the outer joist member and to prevent theapplication of crushing force from the outer joist member to the topframe member of the inner joist member.

[0013] Hutchinson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,306 describes a method of forminga pair of separably connected cooperating bracing members comprisingcutting out a pair of transverse diametrically opposed slots from a longflat strip of metal intermediate the ends thereof and leaving a narrowtongue separating the slots, the slots communicating with the sides ofthe strip, the slots communicating with the sides of the strip, theslots dividing the strip into first and second end portions which areconnected by the tongue, forming at least one opening in the first endportion substantially midway between the sides thereof capable ofreceiving the tongue, forming the outer end of the strip into woodpenetrating elements, forming longitudinally extending rib adjacent oneside of the first end portion, forming a longitudinally extending rib onthe second end portion adjacent the same side of the strip as the firstmentioned rib, the ribs being in parallel relationship and lying onopposite sides of and immediately adjacent to a common longitudinallyextending line, the ribs protruding from opposite faces of the strip forsubsequent engagement with each other, transversely scoring the stripalong the line of juncture between the tongue and first end portionwhereby the tongue can be severed from the first end portion bypivotally moving the end portions relative to one another about the weakjoint, forming the first end portion into a first channel whereby itsrib is located on the side wall of the channel and forming the secondend portion into a second channel which is slightly narrower than thefirst named channel whereby the second channel can be telescopicallyseated in the first channel and enclosed thereby, and whereby the secondnamed rib is located on the side wall of the second channelcorresponding to the side wall of the first channel upon which its ribis located, the first named rib being closer to the side edge of thestrip than the second named rib whereby the first named rib lies belowand engages the second named rib when the channels are in the telescopedrelationship.

[0014] Kisovec, U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,223 describes an adjustableframework member consisting of at least two longitudinally extendedparts including an outer carrier having a lower edge, an upper edge andside walls which connect the lower edge and the upper edge, and innercarrier telescopically received in said outer carrier with verticalclearance between the two carriers, adjustable locking means disposedinwardly of the end of the outer carrier for displacing the inner end ofthe inner carrier upwardly with respect to the outer carrier, andinwardly projecting fulcrum means located below the lower surface of theupper edge of the outer carrier at a point which lies outwardly of thelocking means.

[0015] Rambelje, U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,996 describes a form supportinggirder comprising an end support piece disposed at the ends thereof andhaving a load supporting support flange extending longitudinally fromthe end at the uppermost point thereof, the invention comprising abearing rib transversely arranged at the mid-portion of the end face ofsaid piece, the rib extending outwardly from the face a distanceapproximating the room necessary for pinch bar insertion and having anenlarged end portion, a bearing ridge downwardly extending from thebottom of the flange and having a bearing face aligned with the enlargedend portion of the bearing rib.

[0016] Rambelje, U.S. Pat. No. 3,247,639 describes and adjustablecambered form-supporting girder for concrete construction comprising abox-like section and an I-beam section slidable lengthwise within thebox-like section for adjustment of the length of the girder, lockingmeans for holding an outer end surface of the I-beam section pressedagainst an inner surface of the box-like section, the box-like sectionbeing constructed of a single extruded member having opposed side wallsand upper and lower walls extending between the side walls, and at leastone flange extending lengthwise of the box-like section and projectingupwardly above the upper wall, the upwardly projecting flange beinghigher toward the center of the box-like section than toward the endsthereof to produce a camber in the uppermost surface of the box-likesection without cambering such section as a whole.

[0017] Bigalow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,001 describes a vertical column anda base supporting the column, the base comprising a flat stationaryplate, a cover having an opening, means fixing the cover to the plate inspaced relation there above, and a flat adjustable plate supported onthe stationary plate in the space between it and the cover, the columnbeing fixed to the adjustable plate and extending through the opening,the opening being larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of thecolumn to enable adjustment of the adjustable plate with respect to thestationary plate to rotate the column and shift it horizontally in anydirection, but smaller than the adjustable plate, whereby the coverretains the adjustable plate, the column remaining vertical throughoutadjustments of the adjustable plate.

[0018] Demeules et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,957 describes an extensiblejoist comprising in combination: a main joist assembly composed of apair of longitudinally extended laterally spaced elongated members, eachelongated member having an outwardly directed flange and a downwardlydirected flange, a brace means including an elongated element havingalternate upward and downward right angle bends, the elongated elementhaving alternate right angle bends located between and secured to thedownwardly directed flanges to divide the element into plurality ofsegments, a longitudinally extended stress member positioned below themembers and secured to the brace means, and end piece having a generallyU-shaped configuration mounted on one end of the joist assembly forlongitudinal sliding movement thereon, the end piece comprising a pairof end piece members positioned adjacent the outside of one end of thedownwardly directed flange of the elongated member at the outer endthereof and a cross member connecting the outer ends of the end piecemembers, each end piece member having an elongated top surfaceengageable with the bottom surface of the adjacent outwardly directedflange of the elongated member and a side engageable with the outside ofthe adjacent downwardly directed flange, the end piece members includingopposed and aligned longitudinally extended openings, and adjustable andreleasable fastening means extended through the openings betweenadjacent segments of said brace means releaseably clamping the sides ofthe end piece members into engagement with the downwardly directedflanges, a single retaining means connected to the elongated memberslongitudinally inwardly from the one end of the joist assembly andextended downwardly therefrom between the end piece members, theretaining means having a portion engaging the bottom of the end piecemembers and holding the top surfaces of the end piece members inengagement with the bottom surfaces of the downwardly directed flanges.

[0019] Bolton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,425 describe a device includingthreadably engaged telescoping members adapted to be extended intoengagement with spaced apart nonmetallic floor joists. One end of thedevice has two pointed projections for penetrating a joist and limitingthe member from rotating while the other end has a single pointedprojection for penetrating a joist but permitting the member to berotated to extend the device.

[0020] McDonnell, U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,668 describes a spring-loaded,adjustable stud, for a wall partition arrangement, adapted to fitbetween a pair of channel members secured to a floor and ceiling,comprising; a pair of channel elements arranged in telescoping relation,and having spring means interconnecting said channel elements and urgingthem away from each other and against said channel members.

[0021] Mieyal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,127 describes a metal stud assemblydisclosing for use in either drywall construction or as intermediatestuds in demountable walls. The stud assembly includes a U-shaped studmember and a U-shaped stud extension which telescopes into one end ofthe stud member with a resilient-type of interference fit which producesa controlled resistance to relative axial movement and eliminatespossible looseness. The stud extension is provided with angulated tabswhich snap into a channel-shaped ceiling track to lock the studextension therein. The lower end of the stud fits into a channel-shapedfloor track to secure the lower end of the stud assembly in place. Thestud assembly is sufficiently flexible to allow the lower end to betwisted through about 90 degree to position the narrow dimension thereofcrosswise with respect to the floor track for easy insertion. Afterinsertion, the stud assembly is returned to the untwisted position tocomplete the installation.

[0022] Frigon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,251 describes An extendable pole ormast is constructed from a plurality of nested pole sections with eachpole section is made from an initially flat sheet which is roll formedinto a rectangular, preferably square, cross section element. A seam isformed by over lapping the edges of the sheet, with the bulk of the seambeing placed inwardly of the element. Each of the inner sectionsincludes its own seam and an offset of sufficient size and depth toreceive the seam and offset of outer sections. The sheet materialpermits tabs to be cut or stamped into outer walls of the outer sectionsin order to support an adjacent inner pole section. Tabs are formed ineach of the outer pole sections. These tabs are biased to extendinwardly, against the adjacent inner pole section. Tabs may be formedbelow the first tab to provide a choice in the amount of extension ofthe pole.

[0023] Muller et al., EP 0625622, describes an extensible structuralsupport having an inner tube which is plugged telescopically into anouter tube and is provided in the longitudinal direction with aplurality of bores for receiving a plug-in bolt which is intended forthe length adjustment of the structural support and, in the event ofloading of the structural support, is supported on the outer tube.According to the invention, adjacent bores of the inner tube arearranged such that they are offset, in the circumferential direction ofthe inner tube, by a predetermined angular amount in each case. Byvirtue of the bores being arranged such that they are offset at certainangles, the invention makes it possible, for a structural support with apredetermined nominal load-bearing capacity and with a spacing betweenadjacent bores of the inner tube which is the same as in the prior art,to reduce the wall thickness and/or the diameter of the inner tubeconsiderably, as a result of which savings in materials and thus weightcan be made for the structural support, this having considerableadvantages in terms of costs, in particular as far as the massproduction of such structural supports is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention teaches certain benefits in constructionand use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0025] The present invention is a strut framing apparatus comprised oftwo elongated sheet-metal cylinders, each open at both ends, and eachadapted by size and shape to each other for a tight coaxial, linealsliding relationship.

[0026] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide anadjustable metal framing device in commercial and residentialconstruction having advantages not taught by the prior art.

[0027] Another objective is to provide an instant-fitting, permanentframing brace eliminating the necessity of cutting, welding or boltingtogether with brackets pieces of wood or metal; saving time, materialsand eliminating sizing mistakes.

[0028] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capableof being easily adaptable to a broad application of construction framingsituations, as well as inexpensively mass produced in various metalgauges and in variable fabrication methods.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following, more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. Insuch drawings:

[0031]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention as used in abuilding frame construction;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof as a flat prior to folding into acylindrical form; and

[0033]FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The above described drawing FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the invention, astrut apparatus for constructive use in the building framing arts.

[0035] The strut apparatus is comprised of an elongated sheet-metalfirst cylinder 20 open at each of two opposing first cylinder ends 30.The first cylinder 20 provides an integral first attachment means 40,such as a pair of ears as shown in FIG. 2, at one of the first cylinderends 30.

[0036] The apparatus further comprises an elongate sheet-metal secondcylinder 50 open at each of two opposing second cylinder ends 60. Thesecond cylinder 50 also provides an integral second attachment means 70at one of the second cylinder ends 60.

[0037] The first and second cylinders 20 and 50 are adapted by size andshape for tight sliding mutual engagement in a coaxial, linearlyextensible, relationship.

[0038] The first and second attachment means 40 and 70 are preferablyeach a pair of ears enabled for joining the apparatus to elements of abuilding frame structure 80 by way of screws, staples, rivets or otherappropriate hardware. The ears are fabricated initially so that they arepositioned colinearly with the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3. The ears ofeach pair of the ears may alternately be bent over so as to extend inmutually opposing lateral orientations as shown in FIG. 4. As to whetherthe ears are kept in the colinear orientation or bent into the lateralorientation depends upon the application. In FIG. 1 we see an example ofboth possibilities.

[0039] The strut apparatus may be stamped or otherwise cut out in theflat as shown in FIG. 2, which is illustrative of both the first andsecond cylinders, the difference being merely in the dimensions. Fromthe flat the completed apparatus is folded along lines 90 to form aclyinder with a joined longitudinal seam 100 wherein edges 100′ and 100″are joined. The first cylinder 20 is open at each of two opposing firstcylinder ends 30 thereof. The pair of first attachment means 40 extendsfrom one of the open first ends. The second flat, also represented inFIG. 2, is folded along lines 90 into the second cylinder 50 adapted bysize and shape for tight sliding mutual engagement in a coaxial,linearly extensible, relationship with the first cylinder 20. The secondcylinder 50 provides a joined second longitudinal seam 100 as well. Thesecond cylinder 50 is open at each of its two opposing second cylinderends 60 thereof, and the pair of second attachment means 70 extends fromone of the open second ends in opposition to the pair of firstattachment means 40. This is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] The cylinders are held in an extended position by a fasteningmeans, such as one or more screws or other appropriate fasteninghardware 110, utilizing holes bored in the apparatus at the appropriatefinal position, usually on site. Another method of fabrication would becomprised of seamless tubing punched into the correct first and secondshapes with attachment means such as ears shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Insuch mode, the seamless tubing is punched at its ends to produce twoopposing tabs 40 or 70 by removing the opposing tubing sidewall.

[0041] The apparatus most commonly will be secured to the buildingstructure by a fastening means such as rivets utilizing holes 45 boredin the apparatus at appropriate positions as shown in the figures.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will adopt other appropriatefabrications to achieve the desired function of the apparatus.

[0043] While the invention has been described with reference to at leastone preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by thoseskilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather,the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction withthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An extensible building strut apparatus forframing a building, which comprises a pair of elongate rectangularsheet-metal cylinders each comprising four side walls with two opposingopen ends, the cylinders adapted for fitting, one of the cylinderswithin the other of the cylinders, for axial extension of the strut; andat least one of the cylinders providing, at a terminal end thereof, apair of ears in opposing positions, each of the ears contiguous with oneof the side walls and formed as an extension thereof.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the ears are positioned axially.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the ears are positioned laterally.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein two of the four side walls of at least one of thecylinders are formed into a roll at the terminal end.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4 wherein the rolls are positioned within the cylinders.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein the rolls are positioned without thecylinders.
 7. A method of fabricating a building strut which comprisesstamping a pair of, rectangular, sheet-metal flats, the flats eachproviding a pair of attachment ears extending from one first edgethereof; folding the flats to form a pair of cylinders each with ajoined longitudinal seam, the cylinders adapted by size and shape fortight sliding mutual engagement in a coaxial, linearly extensible,relationship, such that the ears of the cylinders extend in opposingdirections.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step offolding at least one of the first and the second attachment tabs intomutually opposing lateral orientations for attaching the strut to a flatsurface.